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~ „ iii iiiiiiiiiiiu iii ~ ~ , <br />{,•~ 1• ~d <br />U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY - tJATER RESOURCES UIVISIOfJ i:.:f;j~`t3w~:'Eil <br />COLORADO DISTRICT - PROJECT PkOPUSAL--January 21, 1983 <br />~^~.I <br />TITLE: Cumulative Impacts of Surface Coal Mining in Two Selected <br />Tributaries in the Yampa River Basin, IJo{vth~•restern Colorado <br />LOCATIOfJ: The study includes two tributaries of the Yampa River. The <br />major emphasis will be on Trout Creek drainage with a less intensive <br />evaluation of the Dry Creek drainaye. A sufficient reach of the Yampa <br />River will be included in the study to evaluate changes in concentration <br />and load. The study is located in Routt and Moffat Counties of Colorado. <br />PROBLEM: Two new mines have been proposed for the southern valley wall <br />of the Yampa River. One of these proposed mines is in the Trout Creek <br />drainage and the other is in the Dry Creek drainage. The new mines and <br />the existing mines in the area may have a cumulative effect upon total <br />dissolved solids in the downstream major tributaries and the Yampa River <br />mainstream. Mining may also have a cumulative effect upon ground water <br />resources. <br />OBJECTIVES: Because of data limitations and time constraints the <br />objectives of each area are somewhat different. For the Trout Creek <br />drainage the objectives are: <br />Calibrate a dissolved solids model to the stream system with the <br />present land use. <br />2. Impose changes in the calibrated model to reflect quantity and <br />quality of water to the stream system indicated in the proposed mine <br />plans. • <br />3. Identify changes in total dissolved solids in the stream system as a <br />result of anticipated mining. <br />4. Evaluate the probable impacts of .anticipated mining on the quantity <br />and quality of ground water resources through use of existing data <br />and available model simulations.. <br />5. Summarize water use data available in USGS files. <br />In the Ury Creek drainage the objectives are: <br />1. Identify discharge dissolved solids concentration and load in the <br />system through mass balance equations. <br />2. Impose estimated changes in the stream system due to proposed mine. <br />3. Qualitatively identify changes in total dissolved solids with and <br />without the proposed mine. <br />4. Summarize water use data available in USGS files. <br />